Harris Retires
Motorsport Network Ltd
Press Release
For Immediate release: February 9 2009
Harris Retires
New Plymouth’s Shaun Harris, after some serious soul searching and rationalising has come to the decision to RETIRE from Road Racing.
The “Gremlin” as he is affectionately known, had been sitting on the sidelines since his 2007 Isle of Man TT crash, which left him in intensive care.
Late in 2008, the
44 year-old, returned to racing with the stated intension of
returning to the Isle of Man.
Harris has raced in most
classes in New Zealand, holds ten national championships as
well as his 2003 “Isle of Man” Production 1000cc TT and
Production 600ccTT titles.
Ever since his crash, on the last lap of the 2007 1000cc Superstock TT race. Harris had had been fighting to return to his beloved road racing and to get back to the “Island”
“There is still some unfinished business on the Island,” he had stated at the time.
Having now raced several rounds of the New Zealand Superbike Championship, competed and won at the Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day. Harris has come to the realisation that it is time to hang up his leathers.
“During the
whole of my racing career I have been totally supported by
my family. They have shared my success and my troubles with
me on an equal basis. Unless you are in this position, it is
difficult to understand the hardships which come with it. I
have to be honest and say that while I have mainly seen
things from the 'racers' viewpoint, my recent discussions
with my family have finally brought me to the point where I
have decided that with me being a big part of their life,
and them in mine, hanging up the leathers is the most
important thing for me now. My love for my family is my main
focus now and I am actually more comfortable than I have
ever been in my journey of doubt and indecision of whether
to carry on competing at the TT. My decision to stop has
been made purely by myself and for these reasons. I will now
be a 100% family man.” Harris said from his Taranaki
home
ENDS